1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to elections; exempting certain towns from a voting system requirement 
1.3 	in certain situations;amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 206.57, by 
1.4 	adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 206.57, 
1.5 	subdivision 5.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2007 Supplement, section 206.57, subdivision 5, is 
1.8 	amended to read:
1.9 		Subd. 5. Voting system for disabled voters.  In federal and state elections held after 
1.10 	December 31, 2005; in county, city, and school district elections held after December 
1.11 	31, 2007; and, except as provided in subdivision 5a, in township elections held after 
1.12 	December 31, 2009, the voting method used in each polling place must include a voting 
1.13 	system that is accessible for individuals with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility 
1.14 	for the blind and visually impaired in a manner that provides the same opportunity for 
1.15 	access and participation, including privacy and independence, as for other voters. 

1.16 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 206.57, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.17 	to read:
1.18 		Subd. 5a.Limited town exemptions. (a) A town conducting an election not held 
1.19 	in conjunction with any federal, state, county, or school district election is exempt from 
1.20 	the requirements of subdivision 5 if the town has fewer than 500 registered voters as 
1.21 	determined by the secretary of state by June 1 of each year.
1.22 	A town that would otherwise satisfy the requirements of this subdivision is still 
1.23 	required to comply with subdivision 5 at its next general town election if the voters at the 
2.1 	preceding year's annual town meeting instruct the town to conduct elections in compliance 
2.2 	with subdivision 5.
2.3 	(b) If the secretary of state, after consultation with the Minnesota Association of 
2.4 	Townships, county auditors, or other interested parties, determines that a town's share 
2.5 	of the cost of compliance with subdivision 5 will not exceed $150 for an election, the 
2.6 	town may not use the exemption under paragraph (a) and shall conduct elections under 
2.7 	subdivision 5. In determining the town's cost of compliance, the secretary shall include 
2.8 	any expense associated with programming, ballot preparation and printing, and the 
2.9 	equipment costs directly related to compliance with subdivision 5.

2.10 	Sec. 3. TOWNSHIP VOTING EQUIPMENT STUDY.
 2.11 	(a) Beginning in 2009 and at least once every other year until 2016, the secretary of 
2.12 	state shall consult with interested parties, including, but not limited to, members of the 
2.13 	legislature, town officers, county election officials, the National Federation of the Blind, 
2.14 	the Minnesota State Council on Disability, and the Disability Law Center regarding:
2.15 	(1) options for full compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 206.57, subdivision 
2.16 	5; and
2.17 	(2) ongoing costs of compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 206.57, 
2.18 	subdivision 5, and methods of reducing those costs.
2.19 	(b) Beginning January 15, 2010, and until January 15, 2017, the secretary of state 
2.20 	shall report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees 
2.21 	and divisions with jurisdiction over elections policy and finance regarding the findings, 
2.22 	discussions, and developments under paragraph (a).